Sola Scriptura, How About New Revelations?

I’m sorry guys, I’ve not been updating the website lately. But I’ve been responding to a lot of discussions on Facebook though. Here’s one of the questions, this is discussing about whether there are still new revelations or not:

Barbara, there are still new revelations. Whether you believe it or not. Yes that revelation may be given through someone, but I believe God still works in supernatural ways, I’m a witness. Some of my friends hear God’s voice audibly, a number of God’s people see visions, including my friend, a number of missionaries still rely on new revelations of where God wants them to go.

But personal experience is never enough and not always reliable. So let’s look into what the Bible says.

John 16:12-15 (Geneva Bible)
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit, when he is come which is the spirit of truth, he will lead you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, shall he speak, and he will show you the things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath, are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and show it unto you.

1 Cor 13:8-12 (Geneva Bible)
8 Love doth never fall away, though that prophesyings be abolished, or the tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect, is come, then that which is in part shall be abolished.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child: I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass darkly: but then shall we see face to face. Now I know in part: but then shall I know even as I am known.

Cessationists don’t believe that visible supernatural power still at work. they say tongues, miracles, signs, and wonders, have ceased. but if I hear people like John MacArthur explains it why, I think its mainly because of people who claim to have it on TV like Kenneth Copeland and Rodney Howard Browne have bad theology, because he always adds it after he recites 1 Cor 13:8-10. People like Mark Driscoll, and even John Calvin himself acknowledged that those things (might) still at work.

Many cessationists stop at verse 10, but in verse 12 Paul said “now we see through a glass darkly/dimly”, Geneva Bible commentary (written by either John Knox, John Calvin, or Theodore Beza) wrote (I kinda paraphrase) because we still need hope and faith. “But then shall we see face to face.” Oh so the “perfect” in verse 10 has a face. Who is it? Jesus. Verse 12 talks about the end of time when Jesus comes, when we all finally we will see Him face to face. Because there’s no need of evangelism, no need of hope and faith, because it’ll be all right there in front of your face. “Now I know in part,” by faith and reading the Word, “but then shall I know even as I am known,” then You can see the Lord, as the Lord can see you now completely.

Even when you say “now we have the complete Bible”, like John MacArthur said it, don’t forget many places on earth like Romania and Chinese underground churches don’t have the complete Bible. Even in Indonesia where we have more than 5 different translations of the complete canon (2-3 of which I highly discourage of their use), Dayak people of Kalimantan, secluded Papuans, where they still use sorcery. So the argument itself is false.

So do people with good theology might still have those gifts, see visions and dreams, do miracles? Of course. Can a person with less understanding have those gifts? absolutely, everyone’s still learning about the Bible right? When one stops learning, stops living. Can a person with bad theology does as well? Well depends on how you define bad theology, if it means someone with different views of the Bible, of course that might not be bad theology, but if it means someone who teaches “extra things” of the Bible, like Jesus suffered in hell, or like Rodney Howard Browne who said “don’t pray” when he’s about to lay hands on people, well, I don’t think that’s from the Holy Spirit.

It’s clearly said in John 16:13-14, that “the Spirit will lead you to all truth.” What truth? The Word of God. When “new revelation” comes (or as C.I. Scofield said it “new truths to be revealed”, both Scofield Bible and Geneva Bible don’t say it’s exclusively for the Apostles, and ends with the days of the Apostles like the cessationist argument), you can always check if it’s of you, of devil, or of God. Everything that is from God will never contradict the Bible, because God never lies, He never contradicts himself.

Reading through the Word of God would not bring clarity without faith, which is enabled in you by the Holy Spirit. Tons of people reading the Bible, but may lead them further from knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord. Ahmed Deedat’s bible reading squad read the Bible everyday but never really have clarity. Are there times for you when you wish you didn’t know too much, so you wouldn’t be like Bart Ehrman?

Barbara
Calvin, let’s agree to disagree on this point. A couple of points, though. Of course people who don’t have the Spirit of God won’t understand the Word of God (1Corinthians 2:14), no matter how often they read it unless the Spirit reveals it to them. I have a few questions for you to think about: How do you know when revelation has ended? If it still continues how do we know it’s from God? What is the basis of determining if it’s from God or not? Does every one have the God given gift of discerning the spirits to determine if the revelation/vision is from God? Is the Word of God used to discern if the revelation is from Him? How many revelations/visions are from the Word of God (do they line up with scripture)? Remember: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add anything unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things whIch are written in this book. (Rev 22:18&19). *** And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness ; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor 11:14,15). But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Pet 2:1)

The questions “How do you know when revelation has ended? If it still continues how do we know it’s from God? What is the basis of determining if it’s from God or not? Is the Word of God used to discern if the revelation is from Him?” I have answered above. Revelation ends when we see Jesus face to face, or if you want to be specific, during the time of Antichrist (because this is where the Word is banished and we can only rely on our memory and faith). We know things from God by checking the Bible and see if it aligns.

You ask “Does every one have the God given gift of discerning the spirits to determine if the revelation/vision is from God?” The gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12-14 are like tools, given by the Holy Spirit himself as the toolbox, so only when you need it. So it’s never rightful for a person who exercises healing and say, “I have the gift of healing”. If it’s time for you to discern the spirits probably the Holy Spirit will give you that instant discernment. One of my teachers at church in some occasion in some events when there are some things that are not right he did not analyze the things the preachers say but just felt a tug that tells him to get out of the room. But maybe not for me, how it works for me probably is just from me studying the Bible and teachings and doctrines, and the Holy Spirit just pulls it out for me.

“How many revelations/visions are from the Word of God (do they line up with scripture)?” I don’t know, as I don’t know how many “revelations/visions” exists in the world, probably a googol? Considering some people has daily revelations/visions? So I can’t answer statistical questions, but I can point some obvious false prophecy. Like many people claim the Lord told them when is doomsday. That couldn’t be right.

You quoted Rev 22:18-19, some scholars might say it only applies to Revelations and so they can pick and choose what to translate and not to translate out of the New Testament. But I would like to also apply this to the whole Scripture. But no, new revelations/visions/prophecy are not adding the Book, or even removing, they should be affirming the Word of God. That’s why when you “hear something”, go back to the Word of God, make sure the Word of God is familiar to you first.

What about people prophesying over someone, over you perhaps, like, oh you’re going to be used by God in this area of ministry, this and that, whatever? This is difficult right? That’s why we need the Holy Spirit to give us discernment, to be able to choose what to receive and what not to receive. Just pray. The Lord will protect you of anything that is not from Him.